Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam inaugurated the newly constructed Air Traffic Management Centre at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday morning, marking a significant step towards transforming the airport into a regional aviation hub.
The state-of-the-art automated system will make Bangladesh’s airspace safer, more efficient, and elevate it to international standards, the minister said at the inauguration ceremony at 10am.
Recalling the contributions of former president Ziaur Rahman, the minister said, “By launching the new international airport at Kurmitola in 1980, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman laid the foundation of Bangladesh’s aviation sector.”
“We want to transform Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport into a global aviation hub. With everyone’s cooperation, that goal will be achieved,” she added.
State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat said the new system would create significant opportunities for regional cooperation through integrated airspace management covering a 350-nautical-mile range.
“By strengthening coordination with neighbouring countries through information exchange, we are gradually advancing towards establishing ourselves as a regional aviation hub,” he said.
The ceremony was attended by French Ambassador to Bangladesh Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet, Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Fahmida Akhtar, Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh Chairman Air Vice Marshal Mostafa Mahmood Siddique, Thales Vice President Nicolas Bouverot, and other senior officials of the ministry and CAAB.
